Cisco ASR 903 sub-package mode router upgrade

In my previous blog we have seen the procedure to upgrade the ASR 903 router in ISSU mode. Now in this blog I will explain how to boot ASR903 router in subpackage mode. In order to upgrade the router in subpackage mode we need to use some extra commands than the traditional method of upgrade. Following are the steps that we need to perform.

  1. Upload the image (.bin) file into the bootflash of the router.
  2. Make a new directory in bootflash and expand the image into it.
  3. The image will be expanded into the few package files.
  4. Now do the same for standby RSP card as well.
  5. Set the boot marker to package.conf file. This file will have upgrade instructions for router.
  6. save config and reload.

Lets see the procedure below :

ASR903#show version
<Output snipped>Uptime for this control processor is 1 hour, 49 minutes
System returned to ROM by reload
System image file is "bootflash:asr900rsp3-universalk9.16.09.01a.SPA.bin" --------> This means the router is not in subpackage mode.
Last reload reason: PowerOn

We will upgrade the router to 16.9.3 image.

ASR903#dir | inc 16.09.03
22 -rw- 526042522 Jul 2 2019 11:29:35 +00:00 asr900rsp3-universalk9_npe.16.09.03.SPA.bin

Steps to boot into subpackage mode.

Before this you need to make sure that the router config register etc are properly set to refer NVRAM content on reload.

Creating directory :

On Active:

ASR903#mkdir bootflash:IMAGE
Create directory filename [IMAGE]?
Created dir bootflash:/IMAGE

On Standby:

ASR903#mkdir stby-bootflash:IMAGE
Create directory filename [IMAGE]?
Created dir stby-bootflash:/IMAGE

Expanding image:

NOTE : Before this make sure that you have  image file copied in the stby-bootlash. You can directly copy image from active to standby bootflash like below.

ASR903#copy bootflash:asr900rsp3-universalk9_npe.16.09.03.SPA.bin stby-bootflash:

On Active RSP:
ASR903#request platform software package expand file bootflash:asr900rsp3-universalk9_npe.16.09.03.SPA.bin to bootflash:/IMAGE
Verifying parameters
Expanding superpackage bootflash:asr900rsp3-universalk9_npe.16.09.03.SPA.bin
Validating package type
Copying package files
SUCCESS: Finished expanding all-in-one software package.

On Standby RSP:
ASR903#request platform software package expand file stby-bootflash:asr900rsp3-universalk9_npe.16.09.03.SPA.bin to stby-bootflash:/IMAGE
Verifying parameters
Expanding superpackage bootflash:asr900rsp3-universalk9_npe.16.09.03.SPA.bin
Validating package type
Copying package files
SUCCESS: Finished expanding all-in-one software package.

NOTE : Before this make sure that you have  image file copied in the stby-bootlash. You can directly copy image from active to standby bootflash like below.

ASR903# copy bootflash:image.bin stby-bootflash:

Once the image gets expanded into both active and standby systems we just need to set the boot markers and reload the router.

Setting up boot marker and reload:

ASR903(config)#boot system bootflash:IMAGE/packages.conf
ASR903(config)#end
ASR903#copy run start
ASR903#reload

This is the complete procedure for upgrade.

After reload you can run show version to confirm if the router is booted in package mode.

ASR903#show version
<Output snipped>
Uptime for this control processor is 1 hour, 49 minutes
System returned to ROM by reload
System image file is "bootflash:/IMAGE/packages.conf --------> This means the router is in subpackage mode.
Last reload reason: PowerOn

Thank you for dropping by.

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